Zabava-24.ru

Health of your feet

    • (Русский)
    • Home
    • Legs
    • Symptom of cramping legs

Symptom of cramping legs

17 Aug 18

Cramps: why cramps in legs, arms and other muscles, night and day, normal and connection with diseases

Basically, they come at night, in a dream, although they always wake a person up and make him writhe in pain. “Writhing” is what old people would call a phenomenon when legs, arms or other parts of the body cramp. Nowadays such a word is no longer in use, and contractions of muscle fibers that do not depend on the will of a person have their own names (convulsions, spasms) or are simply expressed: a leg (arm) cramped.

Cramps often appear as symptoms of a certain pathology, that is, they always have a reason and, depending on it, cramps can be rare, frequent, constant, affect one muscle or a whole group, occur in skeletal muscles or prefer smooth muscles...

Cramps are not only a sudden contraction of the calf muscle, which can numb a person when swimming in a cold body of water, or a convulsive contraction of the muscles of the entire body, characteristic of an epileptic seizure.

The types of seizures are diverse and they differ in many ways:

  • Depending on which muscles are affected: smooth or striated;
  • Are the seizures epileptic or have a different pathogenesis;
  • Based on the reason;
  • Taking into account the time of muscle tension and the nature of the convulsive attack.
  • We will not go into the details of such a serious disease as epilepsy, a description of which is already on our website, but will consider the topic: seizures, which are manifestations of lifestyle or symptoms of another disease.

    For those who have forgotten what a cramp is, we remind you of its symptoms:

  • A muscle, suddenly frozen in one position, hard as stone, protrudes above the surface of the body;
  • Often the pain is so severe that the person is unable to suppress a cry;
  • The duration of a convulsive attack varies: from a minute to a quarter of an hour.
  • Pain in a muscle is explained as follows: as soon as continuous contractions begin in it, which cannot be stopped by force of will, the muscle tissue ceases to receive oxygen and nutrients in sufficient quantities, that is, it experiences starvation. In addition, during a short period of intense work, muscle tissue releases a significant amount of waste products, which, if in excess, negatively affect nerve endings. Irritation of nerve endings during a spasm is the sensation of pain by a person whose leg, arm, or jaw have been cramped by a spasm.

    The main causes of sudden muscle contractions

    There is always an explanation for such behavior of the muscular system, which, however, is not always easy to find (you need to see a doctor, take tests, undergo an examination).

    If we briefly touch on the main causes of involuntary muscle contractions, they can be characterized as follows:

  • The aforementioned epilepsy is most often associated with seizures;
  • Severe convulsions are characteristic of such a fatal disease as tetanus (opisthotonus);
  • Convulsive attacks can form as a result of neurotic conditions (hysterical neurosis, psychogenic convulsions);
  • Involuntary muscle contraction is observed in case of poisoning with poisons of organic and inorganic origin;
  • Severe muscle tension can be caused by a deficiency or excess of certain microelements (potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium), resulting from insufficient intake into the body or metabolic disorders, as well as a lack of vitamins;
  • Malfunction of the endocrine system.
  • Of course, it is not easy to list all the factors that can lead to such unpleasant sensations. A seizure as a symptom can accompany diseases that are completely unrelated in nature. But due to the fact that readers are more interested in cramps that cramp the limbs than spasms of smooth muscle fibers that cause pain inside the body, our further narrative will be devoted to this particular problem (causes of cramps in the legs and other parts of the musculoskeletal system, their symptoms and treatment ). In addition, seizures in children are of particular concern to adults; they also cannot be ignored.

    Video: specialist on the causes and treatment of seizures

    Convulsive contractions are more disturbing at night, to which the position predisposes: the sleeper lies on his side, his knees are slightly bent, his feet are relaxed and slightly turned down - in this position, the calf muscle shortens and is ready to spasm. More often, convulsive contractions of the muscles of the lower extremities are observed in athletes who force their legs to work very actively during the day, and in elderly people suffering from circulatory disorders in the vessels of the extremities. Quite often, involuntary twitching and shuddering are observed with fever in a young child (usually under 6 years of age).

    The causes of cramps in the legs and arms can be due to the behavior or lifestyle of the person himself:

  • Professional activity: It is known that people who stand all day behind a counter or operating table, carrying loads or checking tickets for passengers often experience night cramps.
  • Heavy smokers suffer from muscle spasms 5 times more often than those who cannot stand cigarettes. By the way, alcohol and coffee are also among the causes of leg cramps.
  • After spending a day running around or taking a quick walk of a couple of kilometers, I got a cramp in my calf muscle at night. Night cramps often result from simply hard physical work that a person does on his own initiative during the day (digging up a garden, moving furniture). You need to make sure that only one muscle group is not tense; if possible, work and relaxation should alternate.
  • Swimming in a cool pond in hot weather, unfortunately, can bring not only a lot of positive emotions; many tragic cases are recorded every year - severe cramps pulled a person to the bottom. By the way, swimming in the pool also does not exclude the occurrence of sudden muscle spasms; swimmers probably know about this. The reason why the leg cramps, making it impossible to move in the water, is the temperature difference : the heated muscular system, having found itself in unexpected conditions, contracts.
  • It cramps the legs and arms when dehydrated (increased sweating and lack of fluid), so in hot weather you need to provide yourself with water in full, especially for people actively involved in sports, working in the fields and those who like to explore hot tropical latitudes.
  • Psycho-emotional stress and stressful conditions can remind of themselves even in a dream, when it would seem that the patient has calmed down. This stress hormone cortisol “tried” - its excess amount in the body led to the redistribution of calcium necessary for the normal functioning of the muscular system.
  • Spasms of the muscle fibers of the foot can be a consequence of existing flat feet in combination with excessive load on the ankle joint, as well as the result of wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes.
  • It causes cramps during sleep and not only with uncontrolled use of medications (for example, certain groups of diuretics, statins, antibiotics and other drugs that remove or redistribute microelements in the body), therefore therapy with certain medications requires mandatory control over the biochemical composition of the blood.
  • Healthy people who do not overload themselves with unnecessary activities, who avoid stress and extreme situations, suddenly notice that cramps have begun in the muscles of the lower leg, foot, fingers... No, no, and at night, for no apparent reason, a spasm will occur, leaving a painful sensation in the morning. First of all, you should think about whether the body has enough magnesium and other microelements and, of course, reconsider the diet: perhaps fasting or insufficient intake for other reasons of calcium, magnesium, sodium and vitamins that ensure the normal functioning of muscle fibers has led to this? Hypomagnesemia often manifests itself as cramps and pain in the muscles of the neck, back, limbs, and tingling in the fingertips. A lack of vitamins A, B, D, E affects muscle contractility, which must be kept in mind when cramps occur in the legs.

    Quick help and simple treatment

    This kind of muscle contraction most likely will not require special treatment, however, the pain will not be tolerated for long, so we can recommend several ways to deal with such unexpectedness:

  • Try massaging the “frozen” muscle or hitting it;
  • You can eliminate the spasm by pricking the tense area with a needle;
  • When contracting the calf muscle and/or muscle fibers of the foot, sit down, reach your big toes with your hand and pull them towards you;
  • You can relieve tension in the calf muscle like this: vertical position, legs touching at the knees, the sore limb resting on the heel, hands trying to reach the toes;
  • If a cramp cramps the muscles of the front surface of the thigh, take a vertical position, bend the knee of the sore leg, grab the foot with your hand and pull it in the direction of the buttocks.
  • Other measures aimed at preventing spasms during sleep or during the day should primarily include:

  • A diet enriched with microelements and vitamins (blood biochemistry will show what is missing);
  • Elimination of harmful addictions (alcohol, smoking, strong coffee and other tonic drinks);
  • Adequate fluid intake;
  • Physical exercise to improve blood circulation and relax skeletal muscles;
  • To prevent night cramps, it is good to take a rule: an evening warm shower or bath with aromatic oils that relax the muscles.
  • If the measures listed above do not seem enough, you can purchase a special vitamin complex with microelements (always including magnesium) at the pharmacy and take it. It should be borne in mind that even in the absence of magnesium deficiency in the patient’s body, drugs containing Mg will not interfere for the simple reason that, passing between nerve fibers, this chemical element reduces neuromuscular excitability. In a word, use magnesium supplements – you won’t go wrong.

    Cramps are a symptom of the disease

    Cramps in arms, legs and other parts of the body, often due to some illness. Especially, night cramps are typical for people who have accumulated various chronic pathologies over their lives, which is why involuntary muscle tension is observed to a greater extent in the elderly. Convulsive contractions of certain muscles or an entire group can be a consequence of many pathological conditions:

  • Daytime and nighttime cramps that occur in various parts of the body’s muscles often accompany liver damage (hepatitis, cirrhosis);
  • Along with other symptoms (fever, dehydration, intoxication), the whole body cramps in case of severe poisoning ;
  • The cause of leg cramps may be diabetes mellitus (diabetic angiopathy);
  • Cramps in the legs at night in people with varicose veins of the lower extremities ;
  • Severe convulsions are observed with thrombophlebitis ;
  • The lumbosacral form of ALS ( amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ) at the beginning of its development is manifested by weakness of the muscles of the lower extremities and the occurrence of cramps in them; with the cervicothoracic variant of motor neuron disease, the arms cramp, and muscular atrophy of the fingers occurs;
  • Spasms of muscle fibers can be caused by a decrease in hemoglobin levels ( anemia ), which cannot sufficiently supply the tissues with oxygen;
  • In the early postoperative period, the occurrence of a convulsive attack is also due to the low concentration of oxygen in the tissues;
  • Leg cramps are also characteristic of vascular diseases of the lower extremities such as atherosclerosis and obliterating endarteritis ;
  • Twitching and spasms occur when there is a hormonal imbalance ( increased production of thyroid hormones );
  • The cause of leg cramps can be chronic heart failure (blood stagnation, lack of nutrition of the muscular system of the lower extremities).
  • Involuntary twitching (tics) is characteristic of some (fortunately rare) genetic abnormalities (mutation of genes that control the synthesis of some contractile protein).
  • Due to the fact that seizures are only one of the symptoms of the listed, sometimes quite severe, pathological conditions, treatment will be reduced to correcting the underlying disease.

    For muscle spasms, of course, anticonvulsants are used, for example, derivatives of valproic acid (Depakine, Convulex) and dibenzazepine (Finlepsin), barbiturates (phenobarbital), benzadiazepines (Phenazepam), but they are not freely sold in pharmacies, their prescription must be justified, and this is up to the attending physician. Magnesium sulfate helps with convulsions, but it must be administered intramuscularly or intravenously, which is also not recommended. But preparations containing magnesium and other microelements (Orthocalcium + magnesium), and vitamin complexes (Ortho Taurine Ergo) can be very useful in these cases.

    Convulsions in a child: with fever and other reasons

    Seizures occur more frequently in children compared to the adult population. The immature nervous system of a young child can react in a similar way to any irritants, which are primarily acute and chronic diseases:

  • Infections affecting the nervous system;
  • Injuries of various locations, but especially craniocerebral;
  • Increased intracranial pressure (dropsy, hydrocephalus);
  • Cystic formations and brain tumors, compressing the cerebrospinal fluid pathways and blood vessels;
  • Various genetic pathologies;
  • Endocrine disorders;
  • Electrolyte shift (potassium deficiency, sodium deficiency or excess, etc.);
  • Poisoning;
  • Feverish conditions;
  • Hysterical attacks in order to get the desired result in any way (even rolling on the floor);
  • Convulsive variant of fainting;
  • Epileptic seizures are included in a separate group, but established epilepsy constitutes a small proportion in the general population (no more than 1%).
  • Meanwhile, despite the variety of factors that stimulate increased convulsive readiness, in most cases they have a common basis: impaired blood supply to the brain , and as a result - its starvation, acidosis and other metabolic disorders in the central nervous system. By cramps in children, we generally mean their generalized nature, although muscle spasms that occur in cold water, during active sports or other stress are also not excluded. Of course, more often this kind of muscle contraction occurs in schoolchildren, that is, at an older age.

    Febrile convulsions in children with fever

    The greatest number of convulsive conditions occur against the background of a high temperature in a child (febrile convulsions, according to various authors, occupy from 25 to 85% of all cases), and it is not at all necessary that the thermometer rise to 39 - 40 degrees. Some babies cannot tolerate temperatures of 38°C or slightly higher. Febrile seizures can present in different ways:

  • Short-term slight twitching of the limbs, rolling of the eyes;
  • Relaxation throughout the body, indifference for a short time, involuntary bowel movements and urination;
  • Tension of the entire muscular system: arms are brought to the chest, legs are extended, the head is thrown back, the eyes are rolled up, the body trembles.
  • Typically febrile convulsions last a couple of minutes, however, if a quarter of an hour passes and nothing changes, you should dial “103”.

    In general, convulsions during a child’s temperature do not require special treatment; the parents of such children, having become worried for the first time, try to prevent the thermometer from crossing the critical level. As a rule, by the age of 6 everything returns to normal and an increase in temperature to subfebrile levels no longer causes such a reaction in the body.

    Video: Dr. Komarovsky about seizures in children and their relief

    Reason: pregnancy

    Pregnancy is not a disease, but it also cannot be ignored, since the processes occurring in the body of a pregnant woman, whose task is to provide the fetus with everything necessary, lead to metabolic disorders, change hormonal levels, impede blood circulation in the vessels of the pelvic organs and lower extremities and thereby contribute to because the muscles periodically cramp. Thus, the cause of seizures during pregnancy is considered to be:

  • Lack of vitamins and microelements;
  • Development of anemia;
  • Increased blood glucose levels (gestational diabetes);
  • Varicose veins of the lower extremities and venous congestion;
  • Failure to comply with the diet, work and rest regime provided for pregnant women;
  • Limitation of physical activity (concern for maintaining pregnancy - forced on the recommendation of doctors or organized on one’s own initiative).
  • It will be better if a doctor prescribes treatment for such a scourge in pregnant women. He will carefully collect anamnesis, conduct a biochemical blood test, check blood circulation in the vessels, assess the general condition of the body and advise in which direction to move: it will be enough to balance the diet, saturating it with the missing microelements, or you will have to undergo treatment in a hospital setting.

    Muscle spasms and cramps - is there a difference?

    Common people are more likely to call convulsions an involuntary contraction of skeletal muscles. In the same category, people include attacks of stiffness and pain that occur, for example, in the calf muscle during sleep, in cold water or after intense muscular work. To explain their condition, patients use generally accepted, and therefore understandable in all circles, terminology: “cramped arm, a cramp began in the leg, severe cramps in the fingers began...” Everything is correct, but contractions of the smooth muscles of the vascular walls, intestines, bronchi and other organs that occur without a human command are also convulsions, which are usually called spasms .

    Also closely related are headaches and cramps of this (spasms) and other (striated muscle tension) types. Attacks of cephalalgia are caused by:

    tension headache due to spasm of the head muscles

    Spasms of cerebral vessels , which are nothing more than a contraction of smooth muscle fibers of the vascular wall;

  • Spasm of the esophagus , causing tension and sharp pain in the chest, neck, ears and throughout the head, although the extremely unpleasant sensations do not last long;
  • Tension of the neck muscles when turning the head in patients suffering from osteochondrosis of this part of the spine.
  • In addition, various other factors (cold, stress, diseases of the brain and internal organs) can cause headaches and cramps at the same time, so a person often does not have time to understand: the cramps caused illness or the headache first, and then other symptoms appeared.

  • Cramps can affect smooth muscles , cause pain and functional disturbances in the functioning of internal organs: bronchospasm underlies a disease such as bronchial asthma, spasm of the coronary vessels causes attacks of angina, intestinal colic occurs from sudden tension of the intestinal walls, and headache is a consequence of spasm of cerebral vessels ;
  • Cramps occur due to a sudden contraction of skeletal muscles (cramps of an arm, leg, fingers, etc.). The body's motor ability most often suffers from such muscle contractions.
  • seizures: tonic (top) and clonic (bottom)

    Taking into account the nature of the convulsive attack and the duration of muscle contraction over time, convulsions are divided into:

  • Tonic – muscles remain tense for a long time;
  • Clonic - phases of tension and relaxation replace each other, causing the muscle to perform characteristic twitching (jolts);
  • Tonic-clonic.
  • Jerky contractions that involve all the muscles of the body (at the same time contracting the legs, arms, and fingers) are often called convulsions .

    Anywhere, anytime

    It is clear that muscle spasms can occur anywhere in the human body where muscle fibers are present, but if every person has experienced leg cramps at least once in their life, then some arise only due to certain, usually unpleasant, circumstances. Meanwhile, people’s attitude to the signals sent by the body through individual tissues is ambiguous:

  • Relatively rare trismus - spasms of the masticatory muscles, which begin with irritation of the trigeminal nerve in epilepsy, tetanus, meningitis, neoplasms, are undoubtedly classified as terrible symptoms;
  • Blepharospasms , when the orbicularis ocular muscles contract as a result of damage to the organ of vision, nasopharynx, or due to dental pathology, are noted as a symptom of the listed diseases, but a nervous tic (eyelid twitches), which occurs from time to time in particularly sensitive people, is perceived as a transient harmless phenomenon;
  • Other nervous tics , hiccups , involuntary twitching of the muscles of the neck, arms, and back , but these are also muscle spasms, which are usually not accompanied by pain and most often occur due to a lack of magnesium in the body.
  • It should be noted that short-term convulsive twitches, which do not bring so much suffering, are also a variant of the described pathology. They simply occur more easily and people often do not attach much importance to them, but in vain - they can be a signal that something is wrong in the body.

    Why do my legs cramp and go numb?

    Numbness in the legs is not such a harmless problem as it might seem at first glance. It cannot always be eliminated at home. Next, we will look at the most common causes of numbness, as well as treatment options.

    Numbness of the legs is an unpleasant sensation accompanied by burning, tingling, partial or complete loss of sensation. This phenomenon as a medical pathology is also called paresthesia.

    Paresthesia of the legs is not an independent disease, but only one of the signs of one or another abnormality in the functioning of the body. It can be both a direct and hidden sign of diseases and pathologies.

    Causes of numbness in the legs

    The most common ones are:

  • Osteochondrosis . In 75% of cases, paresthesia of the legs is recorded in patients with osteochondrosis. The fact is that this disease provokes compression of the nerves, and this, in turn, leads to pinched vessels in the spine. Osteochondrosis develops due to decreased physical activity and can occur in people of different age categories.
  • Intervertebral hernia is another cause of leg paresthesia. It also causes sharp pain in the spine and dizziness.
  • Atherosclerosis . The disease is an unnatural change in blood vessels, their narrowing, as well as slow blood circulation. May cause weakness, increased fatigue, and pain in the limbs. Develops due to bad habits, unhealthy diet, excess weight or excess cholesterol in the body.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis . This is an inflammatory process in deformed joints, which causes the nerves to be compressed and anemia occurs. Various infectious diseases, as well as genetic factors, can contribute to the occurrence of this disease.
  • Neuropathy . Dysfunction of nerve endings. The patient experiences unpleasant sensations, tingling, burning, and the legs may become numb. The causes of this phenomenon are diabetes mellitus and multiple sclerosis.
  • The simplest and most common reason for numb legs is lack of physical activity . If your legs are in one position for a long time, you risk earning yourself not only paresthesia, but also various diseases. For example, osteochondrosis. It is recommended to do gymnastics after every 60 minutes of static work, maintain posture and not cross your legs - as a preventive measure.
  • Reasons why legs cramp

    Cramping legs - what to do?

    Leg cramps are involuntary numbness of the legs, muscle contraction, which is episodic in nature. This condition occurs periodically in many people, but if your fingers or lower leg often cramp, this may be a sign of serious health problems.

    If you feel a sharp pain, cannot stand on your feet due to severe pain, your leg is tense, and your fingers cannot be relaxed, then this indicates that your leg is cramped. This condition is often observed in people at night, and it can occur not only in adults, but also in children.

    Causes of cramps at night :

    • Incorrect posture during night rest. Sleeping with knees bent and feet down causes muscle contraction, resulting in painful spasms.
    • Physical overexertion. Active sports, carrying heavy weights, walking long distances, standing for long periods of time - all this can lead to malfunction of the muscles, as a result of which a person’s legs may cramp at night.
    • Elderly age. In older people, natural tendon contraction often occurs, which causes cramps.
    • Loss of a significant amount of fluid in the body. Often a person's legs cramp in the summer.
    • Taking certain medications. People taking diuretics, statins, and aminophylline-based medications lose a lot of potassium and magnesium. As a result, they experience discomfort in their legs.
    • Bad habits – alcohol, nicotine, caffeine.
    • Pregnancy. Leg cramps in pregnant women occur due to excess weight, lack of vitamins (potassium, magnesium), changes in hormonal levels, and also as a result of swelling of the limbs.
    • Leg cramps in children often appear after severe hypothermia of the legs, vitamin deficiency, flat feet, or sleeping with bent legs.
    • Leg cramps due to illness

      If above we described the primary causes of seizures, that is, those that occur for no apparent reason, then below we list the secondary causes of seizures, which are a symptom of diseases such as:

      Don't panic prematurely because of leg cramps. Very often, such an unpleasant phenomenon occurs due to banal reasons: incorrect posture during sleep, excessive physical activity, pregnancy.

    • Flat feet, varicose veins. With such diseases of the legs, the patient’s local blood flow is disrupted, the tissues cease to receive oxygen in sufficient quantities, resulting in convulsions.
    • Osteochondrosis of the lower spine, kyphosis, radiculitis, scoliosis and other spinal pathologies. When a patient has back problems, the nerve endings are often pinched, which subsequently leads to impaired muscle sensitivity, including in the legs.
    • Jacksonian epilepsy. This is an organic pathology of the brain. The cramps start from the first toe of one foot and progress to the face. Often Jacksonian epilepsy indicates that a person has a tumor in the brain or a vascular aneurysm.
    • Overweight (obesity).
    • Diabetes.
    • Problems in the functioning of the nervous or endocrine system.
    • Imbalance of vitamins (due to poor nutrition).
    • What to do if your legs cramp: first aid

      If your leg cramps at night, then you need to do the following :

    • Slowly stand with both feet on the floor and straighten your back.
    • Taking your foot with both hands, pull it towards you.
    • Pinch your leg, prick it with a hairpin, a match, or vigorously rub it with your hands.
    • Walking around the room will speed up blood flow in the extremities and the cramp will go away.
    • Give a massage with any warming cream.
    • When the cramp passes, you need to take a horizontal position and be sure to put a pillow under your feet so that your feet are higher than the level of your head.
    • Football players, track and field athletes, and ballerinas often suffer from leg cramps. This condition is caused by intense training and muscle fatigue.

      Cramping legs at night - treatment

      If cramps bother a person regularly, then you should not put off visiting a doctor. To get rid of this condition, you need to cure the disease, the symptom of which is leg cramps, that is, eradicate the root cause. A therapist, endocrinologist, neurologist and other specialized specialists involved in treating the root cause can help in the treatment of leg cramps

      If after the examination it turns out that the person has no serious problems, but the seizures do not go away, then the doctor will prescribe the following treatment:

    • Taking vitamins that contain potassium and magnesium. Even if a person does not have a deficiency of these vitamins, taking potassium and magnesium will improve the passage between nerves and muscles.
    • Proper nutrition to replenish vitamin deficiencies. For leg cramps, it is useful to eat buckwheat porridge, bananas, and nuts.
    • Adequate fluid intake, especially in the warm season. You need to drink at least 1.5 liters of clean water.
    • Hot shower/bath, contrast shower.
    • Wearing comfortable shoes that do not squeeze your toes.
    • Exercise in the morning.
    • Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, giving up bad habits.
    • Ice cube massage.
    • Stretching exercises for legs. The following exercise helps to cope with night cramps : you need to go to the wall, put your feet on the floor, and hold on to the wall with your hands. Using pushing movements, lean towards the wall, bend and, without lifting your heels, return to the starting position.

      Or you can do another exercise: sit on a chair, bend the opposite leg for support. And then use your hand to very smoothly pull your toes towards you. After 10 seconds, release.

      If your legs periodically cramp, then first find out the reason for this deviation. Diagnosis of this condition is very important because seizures can be a sign of some kind of disease.

      To stop feeling leg cramps at night, follow simple rules: massage your legs, take a warm bath before bed, do leg exercises, exercise, etc.

      Need medical advice?

      Attention! The information on the site does not constitute a medical diagnosis or a guide to action and is intended for informational purposes only.

      Every person at least once in his life has encountered such an unpleasant symptom as leg cramps. Usually we do not attach significance to this event if the leg cramps just once. But in cases where leg cramps bother you almost every day, you need to consult a doctor to identify the causes of this condition.

      Leg cramps are a very dangerous symptom; if such a problem is not treated, it will be complicated by a number of serious pathologies. It is important to understand that only an experienced doctor can identify the cause and prescribe treatment correctly, based on tests. Self-medication in this case is dangerous.

      Leg cramps are involuntary contractions of the calf muscles, during which they spasm, the foot extends, and this process is accompanied by severe pain and tingling. During an attack, and sometimes after it, a person cannot step on his foot normally, and pain appears.

      Legs cramp periodically in more than 70% of the inhabitants of our entire planet, but such a symptom is not always a sign of pathology. Seizures can occur at any age, even in children, but they are most often associated with serious pathologies in older people. Also, women during pregnancy and those who spend a lot of time in heels often suffer from cramps.

      Leg cramps are especially unpleasant at night. Why my legs cramp at night, what are the causes and treatment - let's figure it out.

      Many patients are interested in why the leg cramps. There are a great many causes of seizures; often the symptom is provoked by several negative factors at once, for example, an unhealthy lifestyle, sedentary work, carrying heavy objects, lack of vitamins, age-related changes, etc. The following points increase the risk of leg cramps:

    • Vitamin deficiency and metabolic disorders, in particular magnesium deficiency, hypovitaminosis B and disorders associated with renal failure and endocrine disorders;
    • Insufficient amount of sugar in the blood, this happens with improper treatment of diabetes;
    • Excessive physical activity on the legs, for example, in the gym;
    • Varicose veins of the lower extremities, blood clots in the veins;
    • Impaired blood flow due to cardiovascular diseases;
    • Problems with the spine, for example, osteochondrosis;
    • Hormonal changes and disruptions when female sex hormones predominate in the body;
    • Chronic lack of sleep;
    • Constant stress.
    • It is important to understand that leg muscle cramps do not occur on their own; they are usually a link in a chain of symptoms of some disorder. If a person leads an incorrect lifestyle, he has every chance of experiencing unbearable pain due to leg cramps. So, with constant stress, problems begin with the nervous and circulatory systems, blood pressure rises, and headaches appear.

      When wearing high-heeled shoes, blood circulation in the legs is disrupted, the foot becomes deformed and begins to hurt. If a person, on top of everything else, eats haphazardly and does not consume fruits and vegetables, then a lack of useful microelements occurs. Also important is how a person treats infectious diseases and whether they undergo a full course of recovery of the body.

      The most common cause of leg cramps is magnesium deficiency. This element is very important for the normal functioning of the body's cardiovascular system. If a magnesium deficiency occurs, in addition to seizures, the patient may experience the following unpleasant symptoms:

    • memory problems, neurological manifestations, for example, nervous tics;
    • numbness of the legs;
    • nightmares;
    • increased sweating;
    • spasms of the esophagus and larynx;
    • toothaches, problems with nails and hair;
    • menstrual pain;
    • heart problems, pain and rhythm disturbances.
    • If the patient is bothered not only by cramps, but also by one or more of the symptoms described above, then the doctor prescribes magnesium to compensate for the deficiency of this microelement.

      Sometimes convulsions can occur even in small children, in which case the baby wakes up in the middle of the night with a sharp cry. Often the child cannot explain what is happening to him, because he does not understand what seizures are. Therefore, parents should pay attention if the child wakes up in the middle of the night, cries and complains of pain in the leg.

      A child may experience cramping in the following cases:

    • If the baby slept in an uncomfortable position;
    • If your feet are cold;
    • With vitamin deficiency, lack of magnesium and other microelements;
    • Foot deformity, for example, flat feet, which impairs blood circulation.
    • As a rule, in the first two cases no special treatment is required, since the leg usually cramps once and does not occur regularly. But if a symptom bothers your baby often, you should definitely show it to doctors, in particular pediatricians, surgeons and orthopedists.

      According to statistics, almost all pregnant women around the world experience cramps in the lower extremities. Sometimes the symptom appears due to a serious pathology, but most often cramps in pregnant women appear for female reasons associated with the restructuring of the body during pregnancy.

      Causes of cramps during pregnancy:

    • Lack of vitamins and microelements, which occurs with rapid fetal growth, poor nutrition, insufficient function of the parathyroid glands and the use of diuretics in large quantities.
    • Iron deficiency;
    • An incorrect diet in which a woman eats 2-3 times a day in very large portions, especially at night. In this case, hypoglycemia occurs at night and convulsions appear;
    • Chronic lack of oxygen in tissues;
    • Compression of the inferior genital vein if a woman sleeps on her back;
    • Phlebeurysm;
    • Gestosis in late stages.
    • It is important to note that if cramps begin to bother you in the last weeks of pregnancy and this symptom is accompanied by edema, increased blood pressure, pain in the lower abdomen, and the presence of protein in the urine, then you need to urgently go to the hospital, sometimes in this case an emergency caesarean section is performed.

      With gestosis, generalized convulsions are possible, which cover a large number of muscles and can harm both mother and child. Therefore, if such a symptom occurs, you need to urgently call an ambulance and go to the hospital so that doctors can monitor the condition of the pregnant woman.

      First of all, the patient needs to consult a general practitioner (GP) with their problem. He will listen to complaints, examine the patient, change blood pressure and probably send urine and blood tests. If serious pathologies are suspected, the doctor will refer the patient to specialists.

      Depending on the cause of the disease, doctors will send you for hormone tests, an ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities, an X-ray of the spine or MRI and other studies. In some cases, treatment may be complex; the patient will have to visit several doctors, even a dentist.

      Treatment primarily depends on the cause of the seizures. If your leg is cramped due to a serious disorder in the functioning of the body, you will need complex treatment, which will be recommended by a specialist based on the diagnosis.

      Usually doctors always give general recommendations on what to do if your leg isn’t cramping:

      • Eat right. It is necessary to cook from fresh and natural products, limit the amount of sugar and salt, eat enough vegetables, fruits, proteins and complex carbohydrates. It is recommended to cook by steaming or by boiling and stewing.
      • Lead a healthy lifestyle. Give up bad habits and regularly engage in moderate physical activity;
      • It is necessary to sleep in a position where the legs are slightly higher than the body, and the bed should be quite comfortable;
      • Women need to stop wearing high heels;
      • To relieve tired legs and normalize blood circulation at the end of the working day, you need to do relaxing baths and foot massage.
      • If the patient suffers from varicose veins, you need to wear compression stockings, and if from foot deformation, then orthopedic insoles.
      • Any drug treatment can be used only after consultation with a specialist. Even if the patient seems to have cramps in his legs due to a lack of magnesium, he should not take vitamins on his own. Excess magnesium can also lead to dire consequences, so you should not self-medicate, especially during pregnancy.

        In addition, convulsions can also occur in case of serious disturbances in the functioning of the heart, while the patient thinks that vitamin deficiency is to blame, his body suffers and the condition worsens. Therefore, you should not neglect any disease; at the first unpleasant signs, you should immediately contact a specialist.

        There are many traditional medicine recipes that help with cramps, they improve blood circulation in the legs, and reduce the risk of the problem occurring again. But it is worth understanding that such methods will not cure the true cause of leg cramps, but will only temporarily alleviate the condition, therefore, with folk remedies, convulsive syndrome is treated only in combination with therapy prescribed by a doctor.

      • According to many patients, chamomile oil, which should be rubbed into the skin every day, will help relieve pain and prevent seizures;
      • Compresses with lemon juice relieve pain after a working day and prevent cramps from occurring. You need to squeeze lemon juice in advance and put it in the refrigerator, and in the evening soak two cotton napkins with the juice and apply to the sore feet, secure on top with a cloth or bandage. Lie in this position for 30-40 minutes, then rinse your feet with cool water.
      • Ointment with celandine has an excellent anti-inflammatory effect; to prepare it, you need to add a small amount of celandine decoction or fresh juice to Vaseline, if possible. Apply the ointment daily for 14 days.
      • To quickly relieve an attack, it is recommended to apply a magnet to the painful area and hold it for a minute, then the pain will go away.
      • If there is no warming cream from the pharmacy, you can replace it with natural mustard oil during massage; it has an excellent irritating and warming effect.
      • Warm foot baths every evening will help prevent nighttime cramps. They improve blood circulation and help relieve swelling and pain in the legs after a hard day at work. You can add herbal infusions to the baths, for example, chamomile, sage or string, as well as sea salt, honey and milk.
      • Daily physical activity helps prevent leg cramps. Therapeutic gymnastics will help tone the body, strengthen muscles and blood vessels, improve blood circulation and microcirculation in tissues. Gymnastics is an excellent prevention of varicose veins and heals the entire body as a whole.

        It is important to start training correctly; you cannot do many repetitions of each exercise on the first day. They usually start with small loads, and increase them as the body strengthens. Excessive stress can lead to injuries, pain in muscles and joints, so do not overexert yourself.

        The following exercises are helpful for cramps:

      • You need to stand with a straight back and stretch your leg forward. Make circular movements with your feet around the ankle joint. This exercise can be done during the working day, sitting on a chair and taking off your shoes.
      • You need to walk around the room, specifically rolling your foot from heel to toe and from toe to heel.
      • You need to walk like a sock for a few minutes;
      • You need to sit on the floor, straighten your legs in front of you and lean towards them, staying in this position for a few seconds;
      • The bicycle exercise is very useful for leg problems.
      • If there are no problems with the joints, you need to do squats or the “chair” exercise. To do this, you need to stand up straight, place your feet shoulder-width apart and slowly squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Stay in this position for the maximum possible time, but not less than 15 seconds.
      • Lie on your back, raise your legs straight up and perform swings, simulating scissors.
      • Lie on your side and swing your leg up, slowly lowering it down, then turn it over and repeat on the other leg.
      • Prevention of convulsive syndrome in people of any age consists of general improvement of the body. You need to exercise regularly, eat well and properly, quit smoking and alcohol. It is recommended to spend enough time in the fresh air; daily walks will strengthen your legs and saturate the body with oxygen.

        A healthy lifestyle will help not only get rid of cramps and bring your body back to normal, but also reduce the risk of serious diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, obesity and even cancer. People who strengthen and temper their bodies are less likely to suffer from infectious diseases and, accordingly, complications associated with them.

        Why your legs cramp at night, causes, treatment, prevention

        The appearance of leg cramps is a fairly common phenomenon, but most often people over 50 years of age, pregnant women or those who engage in intense physical activity complain about this symptom. Sometimes the appearance of such a symptom does not pose a health hazard, but in some cases, a symptom such as cramps at night is a sign of some disease, so in order to exclude possible internal pathologies or learn how to cope with cramps, it is worth visiting a doctor. Cramps in the legs at night most often occur in the calf muscles, and the cause of this condition is the involuntary contraction of the striated muscles of the legs. Contraction of skeletal muscles is most often paroxysmal in nature, accompanied by nagging, stabbing pains that can radiate to the upper thighs or the area of ​​the foot and toes. Typically, cramps do not last long, from 2 to 5 minutes, but in some cases they can last for several hours, causing a person unbearable and severe pain, numbness of the limb, and a decrease in its sensitivity.

        Leg cramps that appear at night have been well studied by medicine. It is not difficult to cope with cramps, since both medications and therapeutic exercises and massage can be used to eliminate them. It is more difficult to eliminate those seizures that appear against the background of internal diseases, but in such cases a doctor will help solve the problem and prescribe treatment to eliminate the underlying disease.

        How do leg cramps occur?

        Both an adult and a child can complain that their legs are cramped at night. Many doctors believe that this symptom most often occurs in people who have a history of diseases or disorders of the nervous system, but this is far from the main cause of this symptom. When cramps occur, several muscles contract (spasms), which causes a person to experience acute nagging pain, as well as numbness in the leg. Basically, the spasm is present only on one leg, it can be present for a few seconds or bother you for a long time. Rare seizures do not pose any particular danger, but if they appear too often or are present for a long time, you should not hesitate to visit a specialist.

        Many people do not understand why their legs cramp at night, but this condition is quite easy to explain. The fact is that at night, when a person is in a horizontal position, metabolism and blood circulation slow down, which is why nutrients, microelements, and oxygen enter the internal organs and tissues much more slowly, which leads to muscle spasms. In medicine, such cramps are called episodic; they most often affect the calf muscles and do not pose a particular threat to health, and pain in this condition occurs very quickly. A more dangerous condition is considered to be when internal diseases are considered the cause of leg cramps at night. Such spasms can be frequent and present for a long time. Therefore, if a person is bothered by such a symptom too often, it is imperative to know the reasons, as well as ways to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms that disrupt a person’s rest and sleep.

        Why do my legs cramp at night?

        There are many reasons why legs cramp at night, but older people are many times more likely to suffer from this condition. In young people, muscle spasms in the legs more often appear against the background of excessive physical activity, while, like in older people, the causes are deeper and are often hidden in internal health, or rather, concomitant diseases. Let's look at the main reasons why your legs may cramp at night.

      • Excessive physical activity.
      • Hypothermia of the body.
      • Leg injuries and their consequences.
      • Sedentary lifestyle.
      • Poor blood supply in the lower extremities.
      • Degenerative changes in muscle tissue.
      • Lack of muscle activity.
      • Taking certain medications: statins, diuretics, antipsychotics, nicotinic acid.
      • Violation of metabolic processes.
      • Deficiency of vitamins and minerals.
      • Emotional instability.
      • Uncomfortable body position during sleep.
      • These are not all the reasons that can cause involuntary contraction of the leg muscles at night, but in any case, a person must determine why the legs are cramping, and also take all the necessary measures to eliminate such an unpleasant symptom.

        Cramping legs at night - as a symptom of illness

        Convulsive muscle contractions are not always safe for health, since they can be a sign of internal diseases, but then the spasms will bother you much more often, can be long-lasting and quite painful. There are several diseases that are characterized by the appearance of seizures at night and sometimes during the day:

      • phlebeurysm;
      • vascular atherosclerosis;
      • diabetes;
      • severe pathologies of the liver, kidneys;
      • osteochondrosis;
      • pathologies of the thyroid gland;
      • neuroses;
      • chronic stress.
      • The presence of such diseases in a person’s history can cause periodic or frequent muscle cramps in the lower extremities, since with these pathologies metabolic processes are disrupted and the blood supply slows down, which causes tissue hypoxia.

        Pregnant women have cramps in their legs at night - reasons

        Quite often, pregnant women also complain that their legs cramp at night. There may be several reasons for this condition, but most often this symptom is observed in the last trimesters, when, in addition to cramps, the woman’s legs begin to swell and there is chronic fatigue in the lower extremities. It is important to understand that in the vast majority of these symptoms appear against the background of weight gain, but if such a symptom is present frequently or the pregnancy itself is difficult, it is imperative to establish the cause. Among the main reasons why pregnant women may experience convulsive muscle contractions are the following factors:

      • disturbance of phosphorus-calcium metabolism;
      • deficiency of B vitamins, as well as magnesium, calcium, potassium;
      • decreased hemoglobin (anemia);
      • high blood sugar;
      • varicose veins
      • vascular pathologies;
      • violation of venous outflow in the legs;
      • excess caffeine;
      • sedentary lifestyle.
      • Proper nutrition, taking vitamin complexes for pregnant women, and moderate physical activity will help the expectant mother get rid of such unpleasant symptoms. If attacks recur too often, you should contact your doctor, who can give useful recommendations and, if necessary, provide safe and effective treatment.

        With constant contraction of the muscles in the legs, blood circulation is significantly disrupted, the tissues do not receive the required amount of nutrients, which can lead to hypoxia, as well as the formation of lactic acid, which, with large accumulation in the vessels, can provoke micro-tears of the muscles and hemorrhages. In cases where a person has a history of varicose veins or vascular atherosclerosis, frequent spasms can accelerate the formation of blood clots, which is also dangerous to human health.

        When a leg cramps at night, a person feels a strong pulling and sharp pain, which may be present in the muscle area or spread to the fingers, foot, and upper thighs. In addition to pain, the leg often goes numb and its sensitivity decreases. Such symptoms are present for a few seconds or minutes, but significantly disturb a person’s sleep. In order to reduce the manifestation of cramps when they appear, you need to sit on the bed, straighten your limb if possible, massage the muscles of your legs, and try to move your fingers. Such actions will help increase blood flow and relieve muscle spasms. Massaging the muscles and toes helps in such situations.

        Some people save themselves in more radical ways - by pinching or pricking a leg muscle with a sharp object, or by dipping their leg into cold water. Such methods are quite effective and help many people cope with night cramps.

        When a leg cramps at night, it causes a person significant discomfort, which needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible. If the attacks become permanent, then seeing a doctor will be the only right decision. After all, only a specialist, having learned about the cause of this condition, can help a person. There is no standard treatment that is aimed specifically at eliminating spasms in the leg muscles, but if the main etiological factor is eliminated, the unpleasant symptoms will immediately disappear. Therefore, treatment will directly depend on the cause. If a symptom such as night cramps is not a sign of a serious illness, then your doctor can give helpful recommendations.

        The doctor may advise you to apply a warming ointment or cream to your legs before going to bed, which can stimulate blood supply, improve blood flow, thereby preventing the occurrence of cramps. Apizartron ointment based on bee venom, Capsicam ointment containing red pepper extract and others have a good warming effect. A foot massage before bed, as well as foot baths with sea salt and essential oils, will also be useful.

        Vitamin complexes such as calcium D3-Nycomed, Magne-B6, Duovit and others will also help cope with leg cramps. Taking vitamins and microelements will restore muscle function and fill the body with useful minerals and microelements.

        In cases where a person has a history of varicose veins or thrombophlebitis, the doctor may prescribe oral medications to restore blood circulation, including Detralex, Phlebodia, Aescusan, Troxevasin and others. It is important to understand that leg cramps are only a symptom, so treatment will directly depend on the diagnosis, age and characteristics of the patient’s body.

        A person’s lifestyle is considered important in the treatment of seizures. So the doctor will definitely give recommendations on wearing orthopedic insoles, and women will also have to give up heels, be more attentive to their diet and wear tight clothes, which they will most likely have to give up.

        Following simple rules will help significantly reduce the frequency of leg spasms, and in some cases, completely forget about their possible occurrence. The main thing is not to neglect the problem, not to self-medicate, it is better to trust a specialist.

        In order to prevent cramps from disturbing a person at night, you need to follow some rules of prevention in advance:

        1. Wear comfortable shoes with low heels.
        2. Avoid excessive physical activity.
        3. Reduce consumption of sugar, salt and hot spices.
        4. Avoid drinking coffee before bed.
        5. To give up smoking.
        6. You need to sleep on a comfortable bed; it is better to choose an orthopedic mattress of medium hardness.
        7. Before going to bed, take contrast baths with the addition of sea salt, medicinal plants or essential oils.
        8. Proper and fortified nutrition.
        9. Timely and correct treatment of concomitant diseases.
        10. By following basic preventive rules, a person’s sleep will be strong and healthy, and the morning will begin with an easy awakening and a good mood.

          Marina Karlova, 44 years old, Krasnodar

          I am quite familiar with how my legs cramp at night. It's just terrible, the pain is unbearable. At first I saved myself with a massage, but then I went to the doctor. After some examinations, the doctor said that there is not enough potassium, calcium and magnesium, so the reason may lie in this deficiency; no other pathologies were found. The doctor prescribed me to take Panangin tablets, prescribed a diet that included daily intake of dried apricots, raisins, walnuts and honey. I made myself a mixture, took 1 tbsp three times a day. spoon. Every day before bed I took foot baths with the addition of sea salt or tea tree oil. After a week of treatment, cramps no longer bother you. I recommended this treatment to my friend, she is also pleased with the result. The treatment is simple, but quite effective and not at all expensive!

          Katerina Morozova, 46 years old, Vladivostok

          I remember how my mother writhed at night from muscle spasms in her leg, but she did not seek treatment from a doctor, but used various folk methods that helped her quite well. About a year ago, I felt for myself what night leg cramps were like, the pain was unbearable and incomprehensible, it was difficult to move. I didn’t try traditional medicine, but immediately went to the doctor, who “delighted” me with the diagnosis of varicose veins and said that my legs were cramping precisely because of the disease. I was prescribed Troxevasin and MagneV-6 capsules and ointment, as well as foot baths before bed. I took the drugs for 2 weeks, the result was good, not only did my legs not cramp at night, but the constant fatigue disappeared. The doctor advised me to also do exercises, but I often forget about them!

          Viktor Gromov, 50 years old, Moscow

          I am very familiar with cramps; moreover, my legs constantly suffer. It’s enough to sit for 15 minutes, I still can’t feel my legs. The same thing happens at night. I often wake up with pain in my arms or cramping in my legs. As the doctor explained, my blood circulation is impaired, and the reason for this is most likely a sedentary lifestyle, since by the nature of my activity I have been working as a truck driver for more than 30 years. I was prescribed a whole bunch of medications, including vitamins, vasodilators and others, and the doctor also advised me to take a contrast shower before bed and apply Apizartron warming ointment to my legs. I did everything as directed and literally after 3 days the cramps and numbness of the limbs no longer bothered me. I really regret that I didn’t go to the doctor earlier, and how much time I spent, because I was saved from cramps only with a pin, which was always present near the bed or in the car.

          Olga Ovechkina, 47 years old, Krasnodar

          I was prescribed Asparkam for night cramps, but I didn’t notice much improvement, even after 2 weeks of taking it. Then the pharmacy advised me to take Panangin tablets, and also to smear my feet with a warming ointment or rub them with alcohol at night. I chose the second one and am very pleased with the result. I don’t even remember the last time I shuddered at night from unbearable pain, then there was no sleep until the morning. For those who are faced with a similar problem, I recommend trying Panangin and a warming massage. This treatment is completely safe, moreover, Panangin will improve heart function and provide the body with the necessary amount of potassium and magnesium, which is extremely important not only for the blood vessels, but also for the whole organism!

          Olesya Voronina, 39 years old, Yalta

          Since I was 20, I have been working as a waitress in a sanatorium, constantly on my feet, so in recent months I have been suffering from terrible night pain when my legs cramp. The pain is unbearable, sometimes it’s scary to go to bed. Initially, I saved myself with cold water, then I bought Troxevasin ointment, but it didn’t really help. After a day of work, my legs were swollen, and at night I had cramps. I went to the doctor, he said that this is how varicose veins manifest themselves, he prescribed Lyoton and Phlebodia ointment for me to take orally. I want to say that since the treatment I feel much better, but the only problem now is that the doctor advised me to change my job!

          Veronika Gryaznova, 30 years old, Moscow

          I often have cramps in my legs at night, and it all started during pregnancy, 3 years ago. The pregnancy was not going quite normally, my legs were constantly swelling, and in the last months I was increasingly bothered by night cramps. I want to say right away that the pain is terrible, and these symptoms lasted for more than 10 minutes, but for me they lasted like an eternity. After being in the hospital for conservation twice, everything seemed to work out. I thought after giving birth the problem would disappear, but no, literally a week after I gave birth to my daughter, the cramps returned. I went to several doctors, took dozens of tests, but no one told me what was wrong. In general, one doctor said that there are no varicose veins, so most likely I lack vitamins. They prescribed Magne B6, Panangin, and told me to smear my feet with Troxevasin, follow a diet and do exercises before bed. I did everything as prescribed, the cramps have practically disappeared, but they still bother me from time to time. It amazes me that none of the doctors told me what the reason was? Either they themselves don’t know or they suspect something terrible. Next week I will definitely go to a phlebologist at a private clinic, maybe they will help me there!

          Categories : Legs

    How to relieve swelling in the leg after an injury

    Raw food diet for arthritis

    Recent Entries

    • Feet with white spots itching
    • Tablets for varicose veins
    • Varicose veins first manifestations
    • Leg joint enlargement
    • Itchy veins on the legs

    Categories

    • Lower extremity pain
    • Diagnostics
    • Legs
    • Prevention
    • Adviсe
    • Treatment options
    December 2018
    Mon W Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
    « Oct    
     12
    3456789
    10111213141516
    17181920212223
    24252627282930
    31  

    Archives

    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    Zabava-24.ru 2018 All rights reserved